Mulberry Heart Disease

 

Causal agent

Vitamin E/ Selenium deficiency

Age group

Post weaning, normally about 15-30 kg.

Clinical signs

Acute

Sudden death.  Generally the best pig(s) in the group. 

No other clinical signs.

Infectivity

Not infective to other pigs

Post-mortem Lesions

Mullberry heart

Large amounts of fluid around the heart and lung

Haemorrhage and pale areas in heart muscle

Fluid in the abdomen with pieces of fibrin

Pale muscle areas in the leg and back

The liver may be enlarged and mottled with areas of haemorrhage and possible rupture

Diagnosis

Post mortem findings

Histological examination of the liver, heart or damaged muscle

Serum samples may be difficult to interpretate

Treatment

Affected group

Inject with 70 IU Vit E.  May need selenium, note selenium can be very toxic

While Vit E is a fat vitamin Water soluble preparations are available

Increase Vit E in the feed to 150 mg (iu)/kg.  Note in start up units it may be advisable to provide 250 mg (iu)/kg from 10-18 kg in weight

Control

Review Vit E concentrations in the feed

Check environment, remove stress factors

Examine for Glässer’s disease

Review feed storage, Vit E may be destroyed by high moisture and mycotoxins

Review genetic and breeding stock

Common differentials

Glässer’s Disease, Actinobacillus pleuropneumonia, Oedema disease and Streptococcal septicaemias

Zoonotic implications

None